Text: Etymology: Middle English, from Old English lEag; akin to Old High German louga lye, Latin lavare, lavere to wash, Greek louein 1 : a strong alkaline liquor rich in potassium carbonate leached from wood ashes and used especially in making soap and washing; broadly : a strong alkaline solution (as of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) 2 : a solid caustic (as sodium hydroxide) 3: a strong solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide

See Also: POTASH

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